Shan Chen stood behind Xia Qianzi, who was standing facing away from him under the camphor tree. He had followed her out of the school. At the main gate, he discovered her hiding behind a tall camphor tree, standing motionless. Then he saw the man leaning against a car on the opposite road. Until the crowds dispersed, she remained standing there, and he had been behind her, watching. If she had just turned her head, she would have seen him, but she didn’t. Her shoulders trembled slightly, and his heart trembled with her. He didn’t know why he was developing these feelings for his teacher. Leaning against the wall, in the sunset’s shadow, he watched them, separated by a not-so-wide road. He suddenly pulled out his phone, scrolling through his contacts, looking at a familiar string of numbers, and pressed the dial button. Then he slowly walked out along the wall’s shadow. She never discovered he had been standing behind her, silently waiting for her to turn around.
She lowered her head, crouching and somewhat flustered, collecting the books scattered on the ground.
Looking up at the steady footsteps, he gazed at her with his deep phoenix eyes, piercing through the autumn sunset. “I’ve been waiting for you,” he said.
His voice gently vibrated her eardrum, everything feeling like a dream. She almost panicked, lowering her head, tightly hugging the books and standing up, using what seemed like all her life’s strength to hold back the tears in her eyes. She didn’t even dare to breathe, afraid that a breath would cause her sobs to overflow her throat.
Xing Tuo said, “Lei Xi said you’re a teacher here, is that right?”
She nodded, saying nothing. He continued, “Can I treat you to dinner?”
She still didn’t look up or speak.
“Sorry, I’m going home,” she said.
Her voice was hoarse and weak. She wasn’t sure if he heard her. After speaking, she walked past him.
“Wait…” At the moment of passing, without thinking, he reached out and grabbed her wrist, unable to tolerate her disappearing from his sight again!
